Charles van Commenee, the head coach of UK Athletics, has insisted that he was not the "high-ranking person" in the organisation who called Jessica Ennis "fat". Van Commenee suggested that the controversy was "a storm in a cup of tea" but was clear that he felt the word "fat" was inappropriate. "I understand the concern that has been revealed almost across the nation because there are some young people who may read things into that which may jeopardise their health," he said.

Ennis and Van Commenee have discussed the issue since she set a new national heptathlon record in Götzis last weekend. "She is totally all right with it," Van Commenee said. "For her there is no issue, for me there is no issue." He admitted that on reading about the remarks, many athletics fans would have assumed that he was the one who had made them.

"I can imagine that people think there can be only one person who can fire those 'silver bullets' as they were described," he said, referring to the distractions mentioned by Ennis's coach Toni Minichiello. "That fits my profile. But I can guarantee you that is not the case. I have never called Jessica Ennis fat simply because there is no reason for it. What other people may have said, I have no clue."

Van Commenee would not be drawn into commenting on whether he would try to identify exactly who had made the remark, or whether they would be reprimanded for it. He said only that "it's on the table so we'll spend time with it".

Van Commenee stressed that offensive language should not be tolerated in UK Athletics, but pointed out that he could not be held responsible for policing that policy. "That goes almost without saying. Do you come in the office on time? Yes. Do you report back to your line manager? Yes. Do you use appropriate language? Yes. But do I remind people every day to do these things? No."

UKA's coaches have a "duty of care" to young athletes, van Commenee said. But he added that part of his role as head coach was to look for areas where small improvements can be made, including weight.

"Every so often you go through a check list and you say 'how are you psychologically? How is your technique? How is your lifestyle? How is your weight? Is there any area for improvement?'" Van Commenee said. "That's an exercise that goes on all the time. So in that light, athletes are approached critically but appropriately so I expect UKA employees, including myself, to use appropriate language. Which we do."